Refrigerating apparatus



Dec. 23, 1930. J. R. FEHR 7 1,785,860

REFRIGFRATING APPARATUS Filed March 51, 1928 MOTOR VEHICLE Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE JOHN RALPH FEHR, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOIR- TO FBIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, OF

DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO nnrmenna'rme APPARATUS This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus andparticularly to refrigerating apparatus operated by motor vehicles.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a refrigerated motor vehicle with convenient and economical means for supplying refrigeration at all times.

More specifically it is an object of the in vention to provide a refrigerating apparatus for refrigerating a motor vehicle which may be driven either from the motor vehicle or from an independent source of power.

Another object of the invention is to provide means forcontrolling refrigerating apwhereby the operation of the apparatus from one source of power prevents it from being connected to another source of power.

Further objects and advantages of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

The single figure of the drawing indicates diagrammatically a refrigerating system in connection with a motor vehicle constructed in accordance with my invention.

Referring to the drawing 10 designates any suitable motor vehicle operated by a motor 11 which includes the usual accessory shaft 14, and is provided with the usual cranking motor 15. The cranking motor is provided with the usual manually operated switch 16 which closes a circuit 17 from a battery 18 through the starting motor to ground. The motor is also provided with the usual ignition circuit diagrammatically represented as. including a circuit-breaker 20, low tension coil 21, and ignition switch 22, all connected in series between the battery main 18' and ground, together with a high tension coil 23, distributor 24 and spark plugs 25.

The vehicle carries a refrigerating system diagrammatically represented as includinga compressor- 30 mounted on the motor frame, a condenser 31 and an evaporator 32 disposed within an insulated compartment on the vehicle diagrammatically represented by 34. The particular construction of the apparatus paratus of the above described character.

present'invention will be apparent from the so far described is immaterial to the present invention and may be of any desired form.

The compressor 30 is mounted so that its driving shaft 36 is in alignment with the accessory shaft 14 and may be coupled to the latter by means of a clutch 37' herein represented as of the magnetic type. The compressor crankcase may contain any desired gearing (not shown) for effecting the desired speed ratio between the vehicle motor and compressor. Preferably an overrunning or slipping clutch 38 is provided for insuring a substantially constant compressor speed in spite of variation in the speed of the vehicle motor. An electric motor 40 is attached to the compressor crankcase on the side opposite the clutch 38. Disposed in alignment with the motor 40 and driven by the motor is a blower 41, herein represented as of the centrifugal type for supplying air to the condenser 31 to' cool the latter.' Preferably the blower shaft, motor shaft and compressor driving shaft 36 are integral.

A thermostat is provided for actuating the compressor in response to the demand of the evaporator and includes a bulb 44 disposed at any suitable point within the refrigerated compartment 34, charged with a volatile liquid and connected by means of a conduit 45 to a metal bellows 46. The metal bellows thus contracts and expands in response to the temperature existing within the compartment 34 and actuates a snap switch 52 by means of the lever 53. The switch is provided with an insulating rod 55 carrying contact blades 56, 57, 58, and 59, all of which are elevated to the position shown in the drawings when the bellows collapses in response to low temperature within the compartment 34 and which are lowered-to close their respective circuits whenever the bellows ex-.

pands in response to a high temperature.

' The contact blade 56, when closed, may complete the. ignition circuit from the low tension coil 21 to ground in parallel with the ignition switch 22 through the switch 56a. The contact blade 57, when closed, may conmeet the battery main 18 through the switch 57a to the wire 60 which is connected to-the governor switch 61, to be described'below,

' which governonswitch may connect the wire 60 to the wire 62, thus completing the circuit to the cranking motor 15. The contact blade 58, when closed, may connect the battery main 18 through the switch 58a to the wire 63 which also leads to the governor switch 61, and which may be connected by the governor switch through the wire 64 .to the magnetic clutch 37, the other terminal of which is grounded on the motor vehicle frame. The accessory shaft 14 is provided with any suitable governor 65 which operates the switch 61. When the motor is idle, the switch 61 connects wires 60 and 62 in the cranking motor circuit and breaks the connection between the wires 63 and 64 in the magnetic clutch circuit. When the vehicle motor is running, the switch 61 breaks the connection between wires 60 and 62 in the cranking motor circuit and establishes connection between wires 63 and 64 in the magnetic clutch circuit.

The motor 40 may be supplied with current through leads and 71 which are adapted to receive current from any suitable source of external power 72, for example the electric power system of a garage. The lead 71 may be connected to wire 72, forming one terminal of a detachable plug 73, by means of switch blade 59 carried on the rod 55 forming part of the switch 52. A solenoid 79 is connected in the wire 71 and is provided with a plunger 80 to which is attached a rod 81 which in turn is connected to the switch blades 56a, 57 a, and 58a, previously described.

The system operates as follows. Whenever it is desired to operate the vehicle motor the ignition switch 22 is closed and the manually operated switch 16 is closed to operate the starting motor 15 until the vehicle motor becomes self-operative, in the usual manner.

When the temperature within the compartment 34 rises to the point where refrigeration is required, the switch 52 is closed, and whenever the temperature is lowered to the point where refrigeration is not required this switch is opened. Assuming that the plug 73 is disconnected and that the vehicle motor is not operating when the switch 52 is closed. the governor switch is inthe position indicated in full lines, completing contact between the wires'60 and 62. Because the plug 73 is disconnected, the solenoid 79 is deenergized and all of the switch contacts 56a, 57a, and 5811 are closed. The contact 56 now completes the ignition circuit. The governor switch 61 is in the full line position and connects wires 60 and 62. The contact 57 completes the circuit to the cranking motor which thereupon cranks the vehicle motor until the latter be-- comes self-operative. When this occurs the governor switch moves from the full line to the dotted line position, breaking contact be tween wires 60 and 62, thus interrupting the cranking motor circuit and establishing contact between wires 63 and 64, thus completing the circuit to the magnetic clutch 37 since the contact 58 has already been closed. The compressor is now operated from the vehicle motor until the refrigeration demand has been satisfied, at which time the switch 52 will be opened, breaking the ignition circuit and stopping the vehicle motor, unless in the meantime the switch 22 has been closed by handto prevent stopping of the motor when refrigeration demand ceases.

If the vehicle motor should be running when the automatic switch 52 closes, the governor switch 61 will be in the dotted line position as above described, and the contact 58 will thereupon immediately energize the magnetic clutch to operate the compressor.

The cranking motor 15 cannot be actuated because its circuit has been interrupted by the governor switch.

When it is desired to operate the compressor from an independent source of power, for example when the vehicle is parked over night in a garage, the plugs 73 are connected to a source of power. Thereafter whenever the automatic switch 52 closes in response to a refrigerating demand, the contact 59 will close toenergize the circuit of the motor 40. As soon as the contact 59 closes, the solenoid 79 opens the switches 56a, 57a, and 58a, so that'none of the vehicle motor control circuits can be operated. The switch 52 is so designed that the contact 59 will close before any of the contacts 56, 57, or 58. The compressor is disconnected from the vehicle motor because the magnetic clutch 37 is deenergized. The motor 40 will then continue to operate the compressor until the refrigerating demand has been satisfied, at which time the automatic switch 52 will interrupt its power circuit at 59.

It will thus be appreciated that the above described system provides means for insuring operation of the compressor from the vehicle motor at all times, whether the vehicle be in operation or idle, and that the operation of the refrigerating system is entirely automatic in response to refrigeration demand.

\Vhile the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. Refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination a motor vehicle, a motor for driving the vehicle, a refrigerating system carried by the vehicle and including a compressor, means for mechanically connecting the compressor to the vehicle motor, and means for operating the compressor from a source of energy independent of the vehicle.

2. Refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination a motor vehicle, a motor for driving the vehicle, a refrigerating system carried by the vehicle and including a compressor, means for mechanically connecting the compressor to the vehicle motor, and an electric motor for operating the compressor and adapted to be energized from a source of current independent of the vehicle.

3. Refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a motor vehicle, a refrigerating system carried by the motor vehicle and including a compressor, means for connecting the compressor to the vehicle motor to be operated thereby, means for actuating the compressor from an independent source of energy, and means responsive to the supply of energy from said independent source for preventing operation of the connecting means.

4. Regrigerating apparatus including in combination a motor vehicle, a refrigerating system carried by the vehicle and including a compressor adapted to be operated by the vehicle motor, a control circuit for the vehicle motor, means for automatically closing the control circuit in response to refrigerating demand,'means for actuating the compressor from an external source of-energy, and means responsive to the supply of energy from the external source for "preventing closing of the control circuit.

5. Refrigerating apparatus including in combination a motor vehicle, a refrigerating system carried by the vehicle and including a compressor adapted to be operated by the vehicle motor, an ignition circuit for the vehicle m0tor,'means for automatically closing the ignition circuit in response to refrigerating demand, means for actuating the compressor from an independent source of energy, and means responsive to the supply of energy from the independent source for preventing closing of the ignition circuit.

6. Refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, a motor vehicle,,a refrigerating system including a compressor adapted to be driven by the vehicle motor, means operated automatically in response to refrigerating In testimony whereof I hereto affix mysignature.

JOHN RALPH FEHR.

demand for starting the vehicle motor, means I for actuating the compressor from' an independent source of energy, and means responsive to the supply of energy from the independent source for preventing operation of the starting means.

7. Refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination amotor vehicle, a refrigerating system including a compressor, means for connecting the compressor to the vehicle motor in response to refrigerating demand, means foractuating the compressor from an independent source of energy and means for preventing operation of the connecting means in response to the supply of energy from said independent source.

8. Refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination a motor vehicle, a refrigerating system carried by the vehicle including a 65 compressor, means for actuating the com- 

